IRS Goes Mobile

The Internal Revenue Service has released the update to its smartphone application for the new tax season. The app, IRS2Go 4.0, is free for your iPhone or your Droid.

The app, which has been described by IRS Commissioner John Koskinen as a “convenient self-service tool” makes it easy for taxpayers to access personal tax information nearly 24 hours a day/seven days a week. And it doesn’t hurt that it looks so much better than previous iterations (note that screenshots are from my iPhone so I can’t speak to the Droid this year).

Here are the highlights:

The IRS continues to ramp up availability of transcripts to taxpayers – which is great if you need to check to see whether you have any outstanding liabilities or other tax issues. Rather than calling 1.800.908.9946 or submitting a form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript, you can request your tax account or tax return transcript directly from IRS2Go. Unlike the web service, however, the transcript details aren’t available immediately: they will be delivered by mail to your address of record.

If you’re still looking for free tax prep services, you can find an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and/or the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program near you. Just enter your zip code and select a mileage range. You’ll be given a range of options with distance, hours, dates, languages and appointment details (if required) for each. To find the location that works for you, just click on “directions” and the maps app on your phone will help you get where you need to go.

Of course, I know what you really care about: refund status. You can check on the status of your tax refund with a few clicks. Simply enter your Social Security number (masked and encrypted for security purposes), select your filing status and the amount of your anticipated refund. You’ll get the same info as is available on the web version of “Where’s My Refund?”

Finally, you can connect with IRS on social media with a few clicks. You can follow the IRS on Twitter, @IRSnews or @IRSenEspanol or sign up for email updates right from your phone. You can also watch videos on from the IRS YouTube channel.

So what are you waiting for? All of the cool kids are doing it: there have been about 3.5 million downloads of IRS2Go since it was first introduced in 2011.

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